A R C T I C S N OW H OT E L & G L AS S I G LO O S WHAT IS ESSENTIAL for a good vacation is to find a great place to stay. Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos is one of the most fascinating destinations in Lapland. Their most luxurious accommodation alternatives are the Glass Igloos with transparent glass roofs. This means that you can actually see the northern lights from the comfort of your bed, without going out into the freezing cold! The SnowHotel which is built here every winter is not only an amazing attraction, but also a unique place to spend a night. The construction requires a few million cubic metres of snow and lots of labour. All of the furniture, even the frames of the beds are made out of ice! Usually, there are a few dozen standard rooms and several unique suites, each designed with a unique theme.
Snow is actually a renewable and flexible building material! The SnowHotel needs no heating, as snow is a very good insulator. The temperature inside the hotel stays around the “comfortable” 0…–5 °C even if it’s very cold outside. How do you manage to sleep in such coldness? Well, all the beds have cosy mattresses, covered by thick reindeer furs. All you have to do is to put on your thermal undies and get comfy inside a winter sleeping bag! The hotel’s Ice Chapel is an amazing place for celebrations. Every winter, a few dozen happy couples pronounce their marriage vows here. The dinner at the hotel’s ice restaurant is a truly memorable experience. The tables and chairs are all made of ice. The dishes are, however, hot and steamy when they come out of the kitchen!
A truly unique experience would be to bathe in a sauna made out of… snow! Their thick snow walls keep the cold outside. Hot steam eats the walls little by little, but the snow sauna can withstand quite a number of bathing evenings. Also, traditional log-build sauna with a Jacuzzi under the open skies is also available. You can book these activities even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. More info: www.arcticsnowhotel.fi.
E L E C T R I C S N O W M O B I L E S A FA R I S TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS are often the key for sustainability. Aurora eMotion from Rovaniemi has recently reinvented the snowmobile. After over 10 years of joint research with the local university, Aurora eMotion has finally launched the production of their own electric snowmobile. Moreover, guests of Rovaniemi can now embark on the world’s first electric snowmobile safaris! The electric snowmobile (eSled) is just as fast and durable as the regular snowmobile, except that it does not have a combustion engine. The eSled can run 40 km on a single charge, even in the coldest conditions. This is more than enough for a casual drive in the forest.
The machine is amazingly silent. The only sound comes from the skis and track, and in soft snow you can barely hear even that. A snowmobile that runs silently greatly increases your chances of spotting wildlife in the forest, as the animals will not be scared off so easily. Most importantly, the snowmobile does not
produce any smoke or emissions, making it possible for you to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy your trip to the fullest. The 2-hour Hillside Safari by Aurora eMotion is available in the morning and in the evening. It is a great opportunity to be among some of the first people in the world to ride the eSleds! Another tour, the 3-hour Noon Safari, includes 15–30 km of silent driving in the wilderness, and a picnic. Special programs are also available, such as the Northern Lights Safari. The safaris depart from Arctic SnowHotel, but they are available to everyone. Transportation from Rovaniemi city centre or Santa Claus Village and back is provided too. More info: www.auroraemotion.com
BEARHILL HUSKY KENNEL
HUSKY SLED RIDING is one of the most fun experiences in Lapland. The Bearhill Husky Kennel is situated near the Arctic SnowHotel and just 20 min away from the city. The kennel is the home of over 70 happy husky dogs. There is nothing else in the world to make them excited but running! The dogs at the kennel are
Alaskan huskies by breed. These dogs are ultimate athletes that are capable of running over 60 km a day. That is quite an ecological and fun way to move around! The well-being of the dogs is taken seriously here. The owners of the kennel, Valentijn Beets and Veronika Butinova, have been taking care of the huskies for almost 20 years now. They believe that both their dogs and their guests deserve the very best. They use small dog teams with a limited number of guests per tour. The kennel does not engage in dubious activities, such as maintaining puppies only to show for the guests. The birth of puppies is usually planned for spring so Valentijn can spend more time playing
with them during the less busy season. The older dogs get a comfortable retirement. The most suitable husky tour for families with kids is the Happy Trail Tour that includes 30–40 minutes of husky sled driving (2 hours total). During the Call of the Wild Tour (3 hours) you will drive the dog team for 15–22 km in the forest. You can also combine the husky tour with a visit to the Arctic SnowHotel (4.5 hours + transfers). You will depart on a dog sled from the Bearhill Husky kennel and head through forests and lakes. Upon arrival to the Arctic SnowHotel you will receive a guided tour of the area before the fun drive back to the kennel. More info: www.bearhillhusky.com ALL ABOUT LAPLAND | WINTER 2019
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